Well, after days of the most frustration I've ever been through (prior military, so this means a lot)...
Mazda decided to deny my claim to fix the 2nd gear synchro under warranty, and voided the remains of my warranty due to aftermarket parts.
Here's the history:
About a year and a half ago - my car (2007 MS3) was under the safety recall for the #4 engine mount (tranny one) -
and I had it performed right away, with the modifications that I currently still have on the car (cobb sri, custom cat-back, cpe standback, wheels/tires).
No questions, no hassle.
Then about 5-6 months ago, boom, crack. there goes my tranny.
Had the car towed, and 1.5weeks later, i have my car back, complete with a new axle and other parts, due to the (surprise) #4 mount failing.
Same modifications, no hassle.
Drive the car from California to Ohio, noticed the shifting was rather hard during the trip.
Now in Ohio:
Take the car in, they look at the repairs that were done, notice something was wrong with the previous repair... some 'clip' was missing, that was allowing tranny fluid to leak out -
they make the repair, flush/fill, etc. Get me on my merry way - then I notice - 2nd gear keeps popping out, now. crap.
Back to the dealership - well they don't have any loaner cars, so I take my car to the next city to an actual mazdaspeed dealership (Park Mazda of Wooster) and ask them to take a look at it.
NOW! the good part...
They call me back a day later, saying that they can't perform the repairs due to aftermarket parts (listed previously) ... OK... I ask to speak to the district service manager, he refuses.
So I call MazdaUSA, a customer service rep. takes down all the information, just to call me back the next day to tell me that the district service manager says he reviewed the case and still will not perform the repairs under warranty. I ask for the technical reasons (how my aftermarket parts caused this particular malfunction to the car) and I get nothing.
Call the dealership back - try to talk to the dealership service guys - they have no idea on the technical reasons. They just said the District service manager called them and told them to not do the repairs.
I ask again, I need something in writing from Mazda stating exactly why my repair is being denied. They get in contact with the district manager and this is what he said, "ANY modifications to the motorplant or
drivetrain to the vehicle and we can deny any warranty claims for these parts of the car." Wellllll the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act says otherwise, that the burden of proof is on the dealership -
Since my parts increase horsepower they will cause damage to other components of the car. Ok, what about the Mazdaspeed branded parts? the Cold Air Intake and Cat-back Exhaust. They increase horsepower, no?
"Warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty.[1] This is commonly referred to as the "tie-in sales" provisions[2],
and is frequently mentioned in the context of third-party computer parts, such as memory and hard drives."
This is directly from the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act.
so NOW...
Filed a complaint to the FTC.
Filed a complaint to the BBB.
Started calling around for a competent attorney.
In talks with the dealership General Manager and Owner.
Best part - that all their deliberation has taken about a week now. I have this great 2009 mazda6 as a loaner car.
Ohhhh by the way - since we aren't doing warranty work, you have to pay for that as a rental.
I just needed to vent - I will keep you guys posted on what comes of all of this.
I'm sick of hearing of all these horror stories about warranties and being denied.
I also understand that Mazda is trying to protect itself from abuse, but...
this is ridiculous. If the ECU fried due to my standback, I would have no problem admitting it's my fault and paying for the fix.
But my modifications causing this damage (which has a history) to the 2nd gear synchro?? Come on...
Well, I'll keep you guys updated... /sigh
Mazda decided to deny my claim to fix the 2nd gear synchro under warranty, and voided the remains of my warranty due to aftermarket parts.
Here's the history:
About a year and a half ago - my car (2007 MS3) was under the safety recall for the #4 engine mount (tranny one) -
and I had it performed right away, with the modifications that I currently still have on the car (cobb sri, custom cat-back, cpe standback, wheels/tires).
No questions, no hassle.
Then about 5-6 months ago, boom, crack. there goes my tranny.
Had the car towed, and 1.5weeks later, i have my car back, complete with a new axle and other parts, due to the (surprise) #4 mount failing.
Same modifications, no hassle.
Drive the car from California to Ohio, noticed the shifting was rather hard during the trip.
Now in Ohio:
Take the car in, they look at the repairs that were done, notice something was wrong with the previous repair... some 'clip' was missing, that was allowing tranny fluid to leak out -
they make the repair, flush/fill, etc. Get me on my merry way - then I notice - 2nd gear keeps popping out, now. crap.
Back to the dealership - well they don't have any loaner cars, so I take my car to the next city to an actual mazdaspeed dealership (Park Mazda of Wooster) and ask them to take a look at it.
NOW! the good part...
They call me back a day later, saying that they can't perform the repairs due to aftermarket parts (listed previously) ... OK... I ask to speak to the district service manager, he refuses.
So I call MazdaUSA, a customer service rep. takes down all the information, just to call me back the next day to tell me that the district service manager says he reviewed the case and still will not perform the repairs under warranty. I ask for the technical reasons (how my aftermarket parts caused this particular malfunction to the car) and I get nothing.
Call the dealership back - try to talk to the dealership service guys - they have no idea on the technical reasons. They just said the District service manager called them and told them to not do the repairs.
I ask again, I need something in writing from Mazda stating exactly why my repair is being denied. They get in contact with the district manager and this is what he said, "ANY modifications to the motorplant or
drivetrain to the vehicle and we can deny any warranty claims for these parts of the car." Wellllll the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act says otherwise, that the burden of proof is on the dealership -
Since my parts increase horsepower they will cause damage to other components of the car. Ok, what about the Mazdaspeed branded parts? the Cold Air Intake and Cat-back Exhaust. They increase horsepower, no?
"Warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty.[1] This is commonly referred to as the "tie-in sales" provisions[2],
and is frequently mentioned in the context of third-party computer parts, such as memory and hard drives."
This is directly from the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act.
so NOW...
Filed a complaint to the FTC.
Filed a complaint to the BBB.
Started calling around for a competent attorney.
In talks with the dealership General Manager and Owner.
Best part - that all their deliberation has taken about a week now. I have this great 2009 mazda6 as a loaner car.
Ohhhh by the way - since we aren't doing warranty work, you have to pay for that as a rental.
I just needed to vent - I will keep you guys posted on what comes of all of this.
I'm sick of hearing of all these horror stories about warranties and being denied.
I also understand that Mazda is trying to protect itself from abuse, but...
this is ridiculous. If the ECU fried due to my standback, I would have no problem admitting it's my fault and paying for the fix.
But my modifications causing this damage (which has a history) to the 2nd gear synchro?? Come on...
Well, I'll keep you guys updated... /sigh
